Author Archives: Dave Jones

The line-up has now been confirmed for this year's Bob Jones Memorial Airshow, with a great mixture of returning favourites and some new surprises.

This year we have a strong WW2 theme, including the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress. We are very pleased to have pulled off the last flying B-16 in Europe. We will also be welcoming a Fairey Swordfish, a biplane that was active in many naval battles - including the sinking of the Bismarck Battleship in 1941. Plus, no airshow would be complete without the Battle of Britain Display - this year featuring the Lancaster Bomber, Spitfire and Hurricane.

The allied aircraft will be facing off the Messerschmitt BF109 fighter and the Old Bückers, this year in new Luftwaffe Livery.

Want something more modern? Well it doesn't get any more modern than the Eurofighter Typhoon This state of the art pride of the RAF is guaranteed to wow the crowds (and possible increase sales in ear plus!).

Laura Richardson returns in her beautiful Pitts Special while Bob Pooler has a new aircraft - an Aviat Husky. We can't wait to see what he can do with it! Meanwhile Team Raven will return with some amazing formation aerobatics and the Breathing Wing Walkers will dazzle the crowds with their mid-air stunts. If that wasn't enough, the Silver Stars Parachute Display team return with their entertaining display, while the Transport Festival will be full of classic vehicles.

Our old fire engine has finally departed. Our Chubb Pursuer was bought by an enthusiast who explained his purchase with “Well, I’ve always fancied a fire engine”. We can’t argue with that!

The Chubb Pursuer (Reynolds Boughton) has been at the airport since 2002. One of only 15 built, it was originally operated at the CAA fire training school in Teesside before moving to Staverton Airport (Gloucester) in 1993. It has a Rolls Royce B81 engine and can hold 1362 litres of water.

In the meantime we have a new fire engine, providing CAT 1 fire cover. It is built around a Land Rover Discovery and is much more agile than the Chubb!

RAF Valley recently celebrated the end of the RAF Search and Rescue operations. As part of the celebrations, they invited Andrew Whitehouse to bring his Westland WS-55-3 Whirlwind HAR 10. We are delighted that Andrew stopped by at Welshpool for fuel, allowing us to join in the celebrations.